Yikes! A fever!

It had to come sooner or later, and I'm glad that it came sooner than later for the sake of my experience and confidence as a mother and acupuncturist. My first encounter using needles with my daughter was after her 4month vaccination.

As always warned by doctors, babies may spike a fever after their vaccination shots. After my baby's 2month vaccination, she was completely fine with no fever. So I expected this time around, she would take it just as easily. However, this time she did spike a fever, a pretty high one for me. Her doctor's appointment was in the morning and by her bedtime, she had spiked a 101.4F fever! For reference, at 102F you head to the emergency room. This was getting too close for my comfort. Though I have infant Tylenol stocked in my first aid baby kit, I decided I would forego it and give acupuncture a try first. My schooling has taught me that young children are very receptive and responsive to acupuncture. Their bodies are still untainted, unaffected by the physical, environmental, and mental/emotional stresses of life. Their Qi still flowing uninhibited.

With my husband's assistance (and approval!), I pulled out my thin 40-gauge seirin needles from my acupuncture kit. He firmly held down her arm so as to not hurt her or myself while I needled her. Quickly and with much loving intention for her fever to subside, I needled Large Intestine 11, manipulated it for just a few seconds and was done. Basically, Large Intestine 11 is located on the lateral side of the elbow at the end of the elbow crease, indicated for clearing heat. She cried a little but think it was more from being held down and perhaps a little pinch from the needle but she took it like a champ. We did the other arm then soothed her and cheered her on for being a tough little girl. Immediately we took her temperature again -- 98.6F! We continued to take her temperature every 15minutes then 20minutes, 30minutes...till we were satisfied we had saved the day. Her temperature did raise again during that time up to 99.8F but didn't go past 100F anymore. When I tooted my horn to my pediatrics supervisor about this he was amazed at the result, stating that when he had ever tried it the temperature would only decrease by a few hundredths, not as drastically as we experienced. Hooray for acupuncture!